Click quick, because the Telegraph is starting a new series of columns on rearing your own backyard turkeys for your Christmas lunch.

Naturally I won’t be doing that – I don’t eat meat – but it sounds like fascinating stuff. The writer bought his two turkeys for £25 each and reckons that they’ll eat around £40 of food between now and Christmas day. Another £10 to £15 each to have them slaughtered and cleaned and he’ll be in pocket to the tune of about £100 in total through savings delivered by avoiding the overpriced store-bought birds.

I don’t think we’d be able to fit any turkeys in our chicken house, primarily because they wouldn’t get through the door, but the two species will live together quite happily, and as it’s important that you don’t keep turkeys on their own – as it is with chickens – this is a neat solution for anyone who wants to raise just one.

Writer Tom Sykes will be updating readers on his turkey-keeping adventures in the two months running up to Christmas. Check out the first part here.

Related posts:

1. Home-made Christmas cards
2. Recycle your Christmas cards
3. Christmas hampers